Desks have long been the home of the mind: an intimate space where you figure out what you think. Desk spaces have changed through the years to accommodate different styles and types of work, and the recent trend toward co-working also represents a change in the nature of the workplace. You can now rent workspaces around the world with funky furniture, pool tables, rock-climbing walls, and free wine. In London, people even rent chairs at their dining-room table by the hour—an attractive alternative to those living in small apartments who are tired of working in coffeehouses.

In my latest Quartz article, I explore the childhood landscape of presidents. I was born on the flatland of Houston where the sky was open in all directions, with no obstacles to climb, no blocked views. How did your childhood landscape shape you?